How do you like it now? Your house in the #stay-at-home era

What has living in your house during this stay-at-home era been like? We’re all experiencing our residences in completely new ways – spending more time in our kitchens and bathrooms than ever before. Many of us are working from home and homeschooling simultaneously. 

It hasn’t been easy for anyone, especially the essential workers who have had to care for us in a multitude of ways in these places: hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stories, and delivery employees. The team at KitchenVisions is grateful for their dedication and sacrifices. They deserve to come home to a space that works well for their needs. Right now we all do. So what does that mean?

Key elements of a well-functioning space

We think a well-functioning space creates well-being. Here are some of the elements we develop for our clients:

·      Sources of natural light and good lighting plans

·      Floorplans that enhance traffic flow and optimize the footprint

·      Storage options for efficient and exponentially more organization

·      Highly functional kitchens that offer zones for prep, cooking, clean-up, entertaining and storage

·      Bathrooms that optimize wellness

·      Bedrooms that feel like sanctuaries

·      Living spaces that offer togetherness, often open floorplans

·      Places for solitude, like home offices and reading nooks

·      Hard-working mudrooms and laundry rooms

·      Basements and attics that optimize space for home gyms, playroom, guest rooms and more

How do you like it now? 

Now that we’ve been safe at home for a couple of months, we’ve all had the opportunity to realize what works in our homes and what doesn’t. What can we change? How can we improve our spaces so that they function better and make us feel refreshed and energized during these abnormal times?

 If you’ve been thinking about a renovation, now is a good time to start planning. We strongly believe that a well-planned project makes for an exceptional result! If you don’t know where to begin, visit our resources page to help you get started. A conversation with us is always a good first step. A virtual walk-through is great second step!

The renovation process

We can’t stress enough the importance of working with a team of professionals. Read testimonials, get referrals, and ask questions of everyone you speak with. Open communication and trust are paramount for a successful renovation. This is a collaborative process – and you are a key team member.

Here’s your homework:

1.     List the things about your house you do not like and why

2.     List the things about your house you do like and why

3.     What room(s) do you want to change?

4.     List the items you want to include in your renovated space, i.e. appliances, storage, lighting, windows

5.     Create a folder, a Pinterest board or set up a Houzz.com Idea Book to collect ideas about styles, colors, furnishings, finishes that you like

6.     Devise a realistic budget and create priorities since you might not be able to afford everything on your wish list

7.     Commit to making sure all stakeholders are on board and attend every meeting, in person or virtual

Knowing what you like – but more importantly what you don’t like – will help you once you begin collaborating with your professional team. The design process takes time and you should be prepared to go through all of the necessary steps in creating a customized plan to solve your specific challenges.

By getting your design ready for construction, you will be at the front of the line when project sites re-open. We partner with trusted contractors that we will recommend for the build phase of your renovation. Many of these companies are working on homes where the families have been able to move out and live elsewhere during construction. Sometimes an addition can be completely walled off and families can stay in place, but right now each town has its own ordinances regarding construction. When working with KitchenVisions, our team will guide you through this process from start to finish.

At the end of your renovation, when someone asks you “how do you like it now?” Your answer will be “I love it!”